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Jesus E. Montoya <br />3627 Aspen Village Way, Apt. A <br />Santa Ana, Ca. 92704-8503 <br />November 8, 2023 <br />City of Santa Ana Planning Commission <br />Chair Bao Pham, Vice -Chair Jennifer Oliva, <br />Manuel J. Escamilla, Isuri S. Ramos, Carl Benninger, Alan Woo, Christopher Leo <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, Ca. 92701-4058 <br />Dear Planning Commission, <br />Thank you for accepting this letter of support for the Vista Global Academies building project <br />and for your dedicated commitment of building considerations in our vibrant city. I am a native <br />of Santa Ana and a long-time voting resident currently residing in Ward 4. Open green space is <br />a valued amenity in our precious community of Santa Ana and highly needed for athletic <br />activities by our youth. Vista Global Academies is a consistent partner providing resources to <br />the greater Santa Ana community beyond educational services. To highlight a few, Vista Global <br />Academies has open food drives that resonate city-wide with both perishable and non-perishable <br />meal options. Additionally, Vista has hosted multiple health fairs, toy drives, usage of facilities <br />by the Raya Foundation to provide evening basketball practices, and a multi school robotics <br />competition that enhanced notoriety of Santa Ana's welcoming spirit and rich cultural heritages. <br />Having a safe and enclosed outdoor field space for our Santa Ana youth compliments the <br />formational education received daily within the confines of the Vista building. I can testify from <br />my youth utilizing multiple parks in our city to play soccer, handball, skateboard, ride my <br />bicycle, and play baseball with family were essential in having life long affirming experiences of <br />why Santa Ana exemplifies being the seat of Orange County. Every youth in our community is <br />equally deserving of having open air green spaces with affinity to our city. <br />When my parents and I arrived to Santa Ana in May of 1975, we resided in a house that no <br />longer exists at the intersection of West Fifth Street and North Hawley Street. Our playground <br />was the abandoned Santa Ana Branch rail line that connected Santa Ana to Watts until 1950. <br />Beautification has redefined Fifth and Hawley with the renovation of the Tiny Tim Plaza and the <br />development of the OC Street Car adjacent to the Vista building. The Vista's building project <br />will be an additional example of your valiant efforts to continue adding essential green space. <br />Having a community garden to grow nurturing foods in addition to providing educational <br />opportunities makes the open space a family experience. The Vista's building project is <br />congruent with the City of Santa Ana's mission to deliver efficient public services in partnership <br />with our community which ensures public safety, a prosperous economic environment, <br />opportunities for our youth, and a high quality of life for residents. Thank you again for your <br />oversight of developments that contribute to our municipality such as the Vista's building project <br />through the lens of the City of Santa Ana's Strategic Priorities of Community Safety, Modem <br />Facilities & Infrastructure, Efficient City Services, Economic Diversification and Expansion. <br />Council 26 — 656 1/16/2024 <br />